[Electric_Worry]

I appreciate there are similar threads, so I apologize for clogging up the forum, however I was looking for advice from people in a similar situation to me.

I was prescribed 80mg slow release Propranolol around 10 weeks ago after my first full-blown panic attack. A few weeks later I spoke to my doctor about stopping the medication when I felt confident enough and he said I could stop them as he doesn't believe there's anything wrong with my heart (I've had an ECG and my blood pressure appears to be fine. I could do with losing a few stone, but I've not been diagnosed with anything like diabetes). However, I've heard that most people are weaned off them slowly as opposed to stopping abruptly.

I don't want to second guess the doctor, but has anybody else had experience of going cold turkey with slow-release Propranolol? I'm not sure whether to try it or to go back and see him or another doctor.

Thanks.

[Going home]

Actually I had the same conversation with my doctor last week. Ive been on the same dose of propranolol as you (mine are also called half-inderal LA on the box) and he said that although I was given them for high BP and what they thought was migraine at the time, he thinks I should now come off them and taken another med for the BP which can still sometimes be on the high side.

I'm in my 50s now and been through the menopause and have also gained 3st in as many years after always being slim and never having high BP before. But he did say I would need to reduce them gradually rather than stop them abruptly, but then ive been on them for a couple of years so thats makes sense. You havent been on them for long, but taking them every day means your system could still experience a bit of withdrawal from them. I know i'll be better off without them in alot of ways and hopefully start to lose the extra weight and gain some energy, but hoping the withdrawal from them won't be too bad. I think the people who are told to take them as and when rather than continually can avoid withdrawal but not sure what's in store for me! We'll have to wish each other luck with it and perhaps share the experience...but I think you should be fine coming off them to be honest.

Anna xx

[Hazel B]

I was on 40mg 3x daily and decided to cut down as I was getting less anxioss and feeling too slowed down. I cut down to 2 tablets daily for a week then one daily for a week, then nothing. That was 3 weeks ago and I've only taken one Propranolol after a house I was looking after was burgled. Good reason I thought!

I did not have any notable side effects and my GP was OK about it and said to keep some on hand in case.

[Electric_Worry]

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this, but thank you both for your replies.

I've been toying with the idea of coming off the medication for a couple of weeks now, however I'm not entirely sure whether I am ready or not. I'm thinking perhaps of waiting until the start of the new year and then attempting it, but again, it's not set in stone. They seem to be working rather well, however I have this new-found health anxiety with my heart, thinking I have heart disease and that if I stop the tablets then something will happen. Although I think that anyway, despite there being no real evidence to support it. I am admittedly overweight and also get chest pain quite frequently, but the doctors don't seem at all concerned and as mentioned, my ECG seems to have been clear. The chest pain seems to be from unknowingly tensing my muscles and not being able to relax as I used to.

The trouble with the slow-release version I am taking is that they can't be cut in half, so I can't try to wean myself off them. I guess what I really need to do is wait until I feel I'm ready and then perhaps have a quick word with the doctor. If I happen to be on them for a few more months then maybe he'd want me to take a smaller dose rather than go cold turkey.

Anyway, thanks again for the replies and good luck if you do decide to come off them, Anna.